Hannah Has Come!

Hannah made her debut on July 13!  She surprised us a week early and left us scrambling to pull things together, but we were thrilled to welcome her to our family.

There’s nothin’ sweeter than a fresh, wide eyed, slime covered baby!  Especially your own.

Moments after Hannah arrived.   She didn’t cry much and was content from the start.  She was a beautiful slimy mess!  I have to laugh at the exhausted look in my eyes and my crazy hair (that was a ponytail!).

Speaking of hair, long before she was even out, Dr. Million told us she could see dark hair!  I didn’t really care if she was a red head or brunette, but for some reason it was exciting and encouraging to hear that.  I suppose I felt like she was close, for one thing, but I could also start to see her in my mind’s eye.

Soon after Hannah’s arrival, Grandma and Bill brought her brothers to meet her.  They all loved her and took several turns holding her.  It was cute, too, because they were all concerned that I was ok.

Too sweet!

All of my favorite energetic people in one bed!

Day two:I wish this wasn’t blurry, but oh well.

They were trying to get her first smiles :)

First bow.

Ready to head home and begin a life as an only sister!

 

Up to this point Hannah has been a perfectly easy baby, but the newborn stupor hasn’t worn off yet.  We are cautiously optimistic that we have an easy baby!

This go round Jacob and I decided to hold off on having guests at the hospital and just relax together.  Since we only stay 24 hours it has always been stressful to fit in visiting with all the family, resting, feeding baby, and necessary exams.  This time we just lounged around while loving on our baby and napping.  It was pretty nice since we never get alone time.

Next up, her birth story.  Each one has been different.

38 Weeks And Counting!

I had another checkup with Dr. Million today.  All is well and things are coming along.  By the time it’s all said and done I think I’ll have gained the most weight with this pregnancy.  It’s no surprise since I’ve eaten pretty poorly.  I’m not proud of it, but it’s been a rough year and I kinda like it! :)

Well, here’s the stats of the day.  Hannah’s heartrate was good and I’m an “easy 3cm” and 50%.  I’m also GBS positive again, so we’ll be faced with the same antibiotic issue that we were for Joshua.  We didn’t have time for 4 hours of antibiotics with him, but did get a loading dose in and all was well.  We’ll have to see how things go this time.

We are officially ready for a baby in the sense of having what she needs ready.  I’m far from ready in terms of work and projects around the house and she certainly doesn’t have a nicely decorated nursery, but we’re working on those things!

37 Week Ultrasound

Today Jacob and I went for my 37 week ultrasound.  Everything checked out nicely and we got to see some whisps of hair.  Too bad ultrasounds aren’t in color!  I find that I can’t even imagine her, not knowing what her hair color will be :)  All my measurements and her heartrate appeared healthy.  Our visit with Dr. Million was short.  As soon as we were called back, she was called to deliver a baby, so while we stayed there for 2 hours, we respected her rush and tried to be easy and fast for her.  We’ll go back in one week!

Here’s a picture of Hannah’s head that is currently facing downward and pressing on my bladder!

35 Week Appointment

I had a check up with Dr. Million last week and it appears all is well, though I had to get a vaccine and other routine test, but I was brave :)  The baby’s heartrate was between 138 and 142 bpm and my weight and measurements were fine.  She continues to be head down, so we are primed and ready to go…eventually.

We are continuing to stretch out my appointments, so I go back in 2 more weeks at which point we will have an ultrasound.  At that point I’ll be 37 weeks and in the real countdown!  It’s pretty crazy that she’ll be here so soon.  It dawned on me this morning that I’ve been telling everyone that we have over a month, but as of 2 days ago, we only have a month.  Now less!

Except for the purchase of a few basics, we are more or less ready…now that I’ve made a large Amazon order this week, including a car seat, that is.  Now I need some small stuff like diapers and pacifiers and we’ll be all set.  At least we’ll be set to bring her into this world.  To do it well and in an organized fashion requires quite a bit more work and I’m pretty sure we won’t have all that stuff that I had hoped for finished.  I’ve been working hard at my job and Jacob has been working non stop to prepare bees for OH.  He leaves tomorrow for at least 10 days.  Such is life.  She better be adaptable when she arrives!

32 Weeks–The Countdown Is On!

This week I had my 32 week OB appointment with Dr. Million.  Everything appears to be fine and this little girl is cooperating by being in a head down position.  I’m measuring right as I should, gaining weight (perhaps too quickly!  I need to improve my eating habits, for sure!), and her heartrate was in the 150’s.

I’ve made little progress in the last month in preparing for this little girl.  I’ve purchased some fabrics to make some things, but have yet to follow through.  I’ve also gone through the clothing we have, but haven’t yet organized it to know what is still needed.  There’s plenty to do, but I’m planning on tackling it starting this weekend.

The next important task is to solidify a name.  We think we have it.  We have all along, actually, but I’ve wanted to toss around ideas before committing.  Jacob, however, has only ever had ears for one name.  Maybe we’ll disclose it soon, though I think most people already know :)

The next appointment is in about 4 weeks and while last time Dr. Million said it would be an ultrasound, it sounds like that will be put off one more appointment.

Final Trimester? Really?

Well, despite the fact that I can’t seem to keep up with the weeks flying by, it appears we have arrived at the third trimester!  I thought I was a week or two away, but apparently I can’t count. 

My visit with Dr. Million went well.  The baby’s heartrate was strong and in the 140’s, as it has been all along, I’m gaining weight (yay), and my labs look good, though I’m mildly anemic.

I’ll go back in a month, then the next visit will be my final ultrasound.  At this stage she often starts to see patients every 3 weeks, but apparently I’m “so experienced” that she’s not concerned that I won’t notice if things aren’t going well :)  I’m an old hag!

It looks like we better get on top of a few things.  I want to decorate the bedroom a bit, sew a few things,  purchase a few key items, dig out the baby items we already have, and finish moving kids to the appropriate rooms along with all their clothing.  One thing at a time!  Oh, we should probably also solidify the name!

Springtime Swarming

Tis the season for swarming in the life of a beekeeper.  This time of year as the hives get stronger, they tend to want to split themselves and if the beekeeper doesn’t stay on top of them they can lose a large number of bees.  Some loss is to be expected, but as part of the husbandry, efforts are made to make conditions prime in the hives.

Swarming happens when the bees take the queen and they all congregate in a clump on a tree (or somewhere) and prepare to take flight to find a new home.  These bees are so focused on their task at hand that they aren’t aggressive or dangerous, so you can get close without issue, but I personally still use some caution!  Jacob does not.

Jacob has taken most of his hives to the orange groves where they have done really well in honey production this year.  That flow is almost over now, but in the meantime he left several weaker hives that were recently split and nuk boxes in our pasture.  As they have strengthened, some of them have begun to swarm.  It’s not uncommon for us to be outside and happen to find one in a tree.  That was the case today when Josiah, Jacob, and I were hanging out in the pasture talking and enjoying the gorgeous day and Jacob noted 2 swarms gathering in the nearby trees.  I’ve watched Jacob catch swarms before, but I think this is the first time I took the time to get the camera to document it.

First swarm:Jacob uses his bobcat to do all kinds of things.

Second swarm:Josiah always loves to help and he’s actually really useful!

Yes, he is in fact a nut.